A custom-made bronze chandelier from roseuniacke.com forms a dramatic centrepiece in the drawing room. The sofas, ottoman and antiques are also from roseuniacke.com. The fireplace is an original feature. For similar chairs, go to grahamandgreen.co.uk. Patchplants.com sells a big selection of indoor plants. Styling: Elkie Brown
Pale and inviting? We wouldn’t expect anything less from The White Company founder Chrissie Rucker’s stunning Buckinghamshire home
When Chrissie Rucker and her husband Nick Wheeler, owner and founder of Charles Tyrwhitt menswear, first stepped into the house that was to become their family home, ‘the hall was yellow, the drawing room was turquoise with gold leaf and the guest bedroom was dark red’. As the poster girl for all things white, you’d have thought Chrissie would have turned and fled, but no: ‘We both fell instantly in love’ – with the house, if not the colour scheme.
Natural materials and a pared-back palette work all the way down to the finer kitchen details. Utensils, from a selection at thewhitecompany.com
Country people at heart, the couple seized the chance to move to Buckinghamshire when their children were small. ‘We wanted them to have the same kind of freedom we had growing up,’ says Chrissie. Their house provides not just a family home, but also a generously sized garden and stables, which allow Chrissie and her daughters Ella, India and Bea to pursue a passion for riding.
Making it the chic temple to white it is today took time and vision. ‘We moved in and lived with everything for a year,’ says Chrissie, ‘to discover what worked and what we wanted to change. It’s been a gradual process, but using lots of chalky whites and soft greys has made the house feel light, airy and peaceful.’
The house dates back to the 16th century, but was remodelled and extended during the 17th and 18th centuries. ‘The biggest challenge was creating an inviting atmosphere and comfort in rooms with such high ceilings,’ recalls Chrissie.
A soft grey and white colour scheme continues in the guest bedroom, where a combination of a small but comfortable sofa and armchair creates an inviting retreat. The four-poster bed is from thewhitecompany.com
Rooms are furnished with deep sofas, large armchairs and include gentle shifts in texture to add warmth. In the drawing room, the crafted bronze leaves of the custom-made chandelier and the carved foliage around the fireplace bring a natural element to the space. ‘I often try to find ways to bring the outside in,’ says Chrissie. ‘So as well as architecture and fig trees, I use branches from the garden in vases to instantly refresh a space.’
Natural materials and a pared-back palette work all the way down to the finer kitchen details. Utensils, from a selection at thewhitecompany.com
Antique furniture adds the final touch. ‘Having these darker pieces in the mix creates warmth and contrast,’ says Chrissie. ‘The space still feels modern as the rest of the house is white at heart.’
The freestanding bathtub from drummonds-uk.com looks stunning on the reclaimed oak floor in the middle of the bathroom. The sculptural child’s chair by the window is an original 1820s piece. For similar, try pamono.co.uk
This is an edited extract from For The Love of White: The White & Neutral Home, published by Mitchell Beazley, £30. Order a copy for £21 until 11 October at whsmith.co.uk by entering code YOUWHITE at checkout. Book number: 9781784725563. For terms and conditions go to whsmith.co.uk/terms, from thewhitecompany.com
Shop the look
Channel Chrissie’s light yet lived-in vibe with natural materials and a neutral palette
Woven basket, £70, laredoute.co.uk, Chopping board, £40 , thewhitecompany.com, Olive tree, £89.99, wayfair.co.uk, Chandelier, £400, neptune.com, Mirror, £79.99, zarahome.com, Chest of drawers, £1,300, perchandparrow.com, Sofa, £799, sofology.co.uk, Pouffe, £129, royaldesign.co.uk, Cushion, £3.99, hm.com, Vase, £43.50, beaumonde.co.uk, Candlesticks, £18 each, rockettstgeorge.co.uk, Vase, £145, luxdeco.com, Table, £1,055, barkerandstonehouse.co.uk